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Choosing your semester’s classes in college doesn’t have to be difficult, and putting some thought into your schedule is sometimes all it takes to ensure that your semester does not become stressful and hectic. Follow these tips for a great semester schedule:
1. Double counting adds up.
Most colleges have core programs that they require students to complete in order to graduate. It’s possible that some of these classes could also count towards your major, in which case you should use these “double counts” to your advantage. Too often, college students decide on a major and take a semester’s worth of classes for that major, only to decide later that they’re switching majors. If the classes you’re taking for your major don’t count towards any other requirements and you later decide to change majors, it means that you’ve wasted a great deal of time and money, or it could even mean that you have to graduate late.
Rather than risk taking classes that later become unnecessary, try sticking to the basics. You need to complete the core requirements anyway, so why not save money and time by having the class count towards to separate programs? If you want to take classes in your major, start out by taking only those that double count. If you haven’t decided on a major yet, use the core program to help you choose. Don’t just take the core credits that you think will be easiest; instead, take a wide variety of classes to help pinpoint your interests and help you decide on a future major.
2. Be tough like a second grader.
That’s right. In at least one way, second graders are tougher than you. That’s because they aren’t afraid of long school days. Something happens during that summer between senior year and college, and students begin considering back-to-back classes unbearably long and difficult; however, in reality, it really isn’t that bad and can actually give you more free time than you ever thought you’d have in college.
So if the classes are available at the right times, consider scheduling your full course load for only two or three days of the week, rather than spacing them out throughout all five. Sure, these days will be intense, but you survived 8-9 hour days in elementary, middle, and high school, didn’t you? And unlike your K-12 years, these long days won’t occur 5 days a week. Rather, if your classes meet every other day, you’ll have a full day of back-to-back classes, and then the following day you will have no classes at all. That’s an entire day to sleep in, work a campus job, or do the previous day’s homework, all at your own pace. Sounds pretty nice, huh?
3. Don’t lump the hard classes together.
You have eight semesters in college. That’s eight opportunities to schedule classes that work well together. If there are classes you have to take for your major that you know are going to be difficult, don’t schedule them all for the same semester. It might seem like a good idea to lump them together just to get them over with, but that could result in some serious consequences.
So this semester, take some time to develop a really perfect schedule. Pick classes that work well together, and make sure you’re completing all requirements on time. Take as many classes as possible that double count towards your major(s), core program, or other graduation requirement, and don’t be afraid of back-to-back scheduling if it means you’ll have entire days off. If you have questions about your college’s specific requirements, talk to an adviser.First, it’s going to be extremely stressful. Semesters are short, but if every day is a grueling challenge, four months is going to seem like an eternity. Also, if you don’t schedule easier classes to give your brain a break, you’ll probably end up performing much worse in these classes than if you’d spaced them out over the course of your college career. That means a lower GPA, which nobody needs in today’s competitive job market.
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